Tribological properties of pure carbon strip affected by dynamic contact force during current-carrying sliding

Contact force between pantograph and contact wire presents periodic variation with the running of trains. In this paper, the effects of dynamic contact force on friction coefficient and wear rate of pure carbon strip were studied on a pin-on-disk test rig with coupling and decoupling tests. Coupling results showed that the best tribological properties were obtained at 80 km/h. Decoupling results suggested that the increasing amplitude resulted in the production and extension of cracks and severe arc erosion; the increasing frequency contributed to the formation of the oxide film at low arc rate phases. This paper studied the detailed electrical wear behaviors of pure carbon strip and the related mechanism. The results may provide some practical guidance for railway operation.